Celebrating Juneteenth with JP Morgan

Dr. Monique LaRon and I had the privilege of celebrating Juneteenth at Metropolis, a Marcus Samuelsson restaurant with JP Morgan, where Frederick Royall hosted an insightful conversation with Susan L. Taylor, Founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor-in-Chief Emerita of Essence Magazine. Her timely wisdom on leadership deeply resonated with me.

Mrs. Taylor centered her talk on the value of kindness—a quality often underestimated but crucial in people leadership. She emphasized that true leadership demands accountability, urging leaders to apologize and own our mistakes. As leaders navigating turbulent times, she underscored the importance of keeping purpose, mission, and vision at the core of our endeavors, with the conviction that financial success will naturally follow.

Her insights extended to the critical need for equitable compensation within our teams and the creation of safe spaces where all ideas, even the seemingly "ridiculous" ones, can be freely shared and explored. This, she asserted, is where true innovation is born. Ultimately, success in business hinges on understanding our audience, and the path to genuine joy lies in feeding our purpose. This powerful conversation reinforced my belief that as leaders, we must strive to make our work truly matter to the people we serve, customers and colleagues alike.

Beyond these practical takeaways, Ms. Taylor left us with a powerful message of hope. She acknowledged that while these times may feel uncertain and unprecedented, we are, in fact, in the best position we've ever been in.

Thank you JP Morgan for this incredible event. Debra Langford, Adama Diggs, Olutade Olulade, and great to see WBEC’s Leandra Joseph